Stationary fire-extinguisher system.



R. L. CONEY.

STATIO'TARY NBE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

APPLCATXON FILED H0129. 1909.

Patented Got. 7, w13.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

.ROBERTL. CO0NEY, 0F ATLNT, E'ORGI.&.

vS(lul.TIONARIY FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

Sp'eccation of `Letters Patent.

i' Fatenteol (tot. 7, 15H3.

Application filed November 29, 1909. Serial No. 630,468.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that l, ROBERT L. COoNnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county o-t Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Stationary Fire-Extinguisher Systems, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in Stationary tire extinguisher systems of a type in which the power or influence developed by the activity of a pneumatic medium at ordinary temperature is utilized as a motive force to directly eltect the operative 'movement of a mechanical controlling element of tire extinguisher agent supply means.

The invention involves the combination with a system wherein the operation may be produced by an impulse which is derived from .a static pressure of a means for developing another and independent impulse from an outside source and which produces the same operations as the impulse derived from the static pressure. The particular advantage of such a combination resides in its provision for dual contro-l, the present arrangement being operable at will without regard to the presence or absence of the charging pressure and being of utility in the emergency of the absence of the charging pressure, a` circumstance which would otherwisedefeat the operation of the automaticsystem.

The pulsation or equivalent action of elastic iluid may advantageously be of positive character. The word positive as used in this connection and throughout the specification, does not have the meaning which it usually has in the mechanical sciences but is ,intended to describe a pressure which operates expansively or by positive projection.

The invention proposes as a novel adjunct an acid bottle having a surrounding drainlage chamber' for a purpose to be described.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings whereinl:

Figure l .is a central longitudinal sectional view of a system in which the present invention .is carried out. lar view of an alternative apparatus preserving the basic principles stated. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative structnralfdetail. Fig. 4C is a sec- Fig/Q is a simi-A tional view showing one form of an lacid bottle provided with a drainage chamber. Fig. 5 is a similar viewl showing an alternative form o acid 'bottle provided with a 6g drainage chamber.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Inthe example shown in Figs. l and 2, thereis disclosed anautoma'tic system which forms the basis of my co-pending application, Serial No. 540,661, operable by a pneumat-ic impulse and which 'includes a tank l,

a distributing pipe 2 provided with sprin- 70 kler heads or equivalent devices, and a shell 3, communicating with the distributing pipe and tted into the end of the tank. A barrel l is connected to the' shell 3 and projects into the 'tank l, being therein provided with 75 a depending p1pe, as 5, through which the tire extinguisher agentflows to the distributing system.

The tank 1 contains the lire extinguisher agent supply means, e. g. a chemical mixing apparatus involving an invertible acid bottle which, in this instance, constitutes the aforesaid movable mechanical element. This bottle, designated by the numeral 6, is in the present example pivotally support- 35 ed ott and below center on a bracket, as 7.

A plunger 8 is iitted in the shell 3 and is operatively connected to the acid bottle. Toward this end the plunger is provided with a rod 9 which projects axially through 9o an opening 10 in the end of the barrel 4 and is connected to the acid bottle by a chain, as ll. The plunger 8 constitutes a means operable by the pneuma-ti impulse previously referred to, for elle ting the overturning' of the acid bottle. The niotive .force for operating the plunger 8 inthe embodiment thus far described, is referably derived from a maintained charging pressure. This 4pressure is putin the distributingfoo pipe 2, in the Yshell 3, and in the tank The pressure in the pipe 2 andl in the shell' Sfis a controlling or dominant pressure, and the pressure in the tank l is an operat-,i` ing servient pressure and is .norl'nally7x 105 held in restraint by the dominant pres-Q sure but becomes active when the latter falls vconsequent tothe opening of a sprinkler head to produce an operative movement of the plunger 8 and therewith the inversion of llc the acid bottle. lofpreveut the csc-ape of gigas from the tanlc` .when the plunger has connection, as 13, may

is shown conventionally in Fig. 2, for this4 ln the apparatus described it is essential thatl rthe pressure in the distributing pipe and in the tank l be kept equal or at balancing degrees. For this purpose a by-pass A be provided, the same involving a pipe which connects the tank l and pipe 2 and in Which is fitted a diaptiragm 14 having a pin hole aperture which provides for the normal equalization of the pressures in compensating for slight lealrages but does not allow any material degree of pressure to escape from the tank Il. when the pressure in the pipe 2 is suddenly and materially reduced consequent to theV opening of a sprinkler.

1 The improvements which form the basis of the present invention may be, as previously stated, advantageously combined with a system of automatic control, an example of which has been described, and al ternativc forms of such a combination are herein disclosed.

. An .example of the present improvement, as shown in Figs. l and 2, involves a pipe, as 15,'Which is equipped with devices, as

i6, for creating or producing the elastic,

fluid pulsati'on. A pump, as shown in Fig. l, or a cylinder of compressed air, as shown in Fig. 2,v may be mentioned as examples of such a device.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the pipe l5 is employed in-conneetion with a means, additional to the piston 8, for overturning the acid bottle, such a means including a piston, as 17, which Works in a barrel, as 18, and has `a plunger, as 1.9, which projects through one end of the barrel and against ,which the acid .bottle rests. The barrel 18 tov has an Aupvvard extension which is set into the upper. side of the tank, and to which is coupled a pipe section 20. The latter branches from a pipel which is'joined to the pipe 15.

'Any of the devices 16 may be operated to create a pulsation of air which produces an operative movement of the piston 17 and the resultant inversion of the acid boltle. The developed pressure moves the plunger 8 to the outer end of the cylinder 3.

Except for the variations to be detailed `in the followingparagraph, the arrangen ment shown in Fig. 2 is similar tp the arrangement shoivn 1n Fig.A l,

ln Fig. 2, the pipe l5 1s shown as joined Loaders to the by-pass 13 in such a manner that the pressure from the cylinder 1G enters the upper portion of the tank l through the bypass and acts on the piston 55, forcing 'the same outwardly and thereby effecting the inversion ot the acid bottle in the manner explained. In this arrangement the piston 17 and its adjuncts are not employed.

The pulsation creating and utilizing arrangements ot Figs. l and 2 are,'When comn bined with the maintained pressure apparatus, primarily intended for use in the emergency incident to the absence ot acharging pressure in the system.

The present arrangement provides for the use of a combined pressure gage and alarm as an adjunct of the aiitomatic system and for the application and assemblage ot this device in a novel relation and manner. TheY combined pressure gage and alarm is shown in Fig. l, and consists of a U tube, as 22, mounted on a suitable graduated base QB land having one lpg connected to an extension of the pipe 2l. rllhe tube 22 contains a body ot' mer? cury or its equivalent, Qd, which cooperates with platinum contacts '26 and 9.7. ln order 'to put the U tube in communication with the system so that it may be subject to the influence of the charging pressure therein, the pipe 2l is connected to the pipe 2 by a by-pass, as Q8, in Which is fitted an apertured diaphragm 29. The pressure in the system vnormally holds the body of mercury out of contact- With the contact 2G. In case thc pressure rises suiliciently, c. g. in case of a tire, or for other reasons, the body 2er. changes its position so as to engage the contact 27 and thereby to close a circuit and sound an alarm.

It, by reason of leakage, the charging pressure is lost, the body 24 shifts to engage the contact 26, thereby closing a circuit by Which devices (not shown) are operated t0 give notice of the loss of pressure. A slight pressure, however, holds the body of mercury citt of contact with the contact 26.

The graduations on the base 23 indicate at* all times the degree of charging pressure present in the system.

Fig. 3 discloses an alternative detail iinl which a conio'rr'n nozzle 30' is substituted for the piston 17 and is connected to a pipe, as 1S?. W'hen the nozzle 30 is used, it is` preferred to employ a cylinder of compressed air as the source of the pulsation, and a suitably located, normally sealed valve', as 18h is provided to Jproduce the pul sation. The nozzle 30 terminates in close proximity to the upper end of the acid bottle; and the force of the concentrated jet of uidl delivered by this-nozzle vis vsulicient to move the acid bottle past its center of gravity. j

ln Figs. a and 5, therelis shown a novel mmol@ acid bottle construction, the distinguishing feature of which is the provision oi a suppiemental chamber, open at its upper end and preferably surrounding; the acid bott-ie. in Fig. 4 the acid bottle is indicated. oy the numeral 3l and is provided with a lsurroumiingr jaclret, as 32, open at its upper end andj in the constructions wherein the acid bottle is invertible, provided Wit-li trunnions 1Where the acid is confined in a selution tank, in a separate container, there is an absorpn tion oi moisture, which eventually causes the mixture to overiio.Y the bottle, some of the acid being thereby lost and the strength. of the alkaline solution weakened. By the use of what for convenience has been termed the' drainage chamber, the acid is not lost, and the solution is not weakened, since any excess mixture due to the cause noted, overfiows into the jacket 32 and not into the body of solution. In Fig. 5, tliejacket,

as 32, is disposed above the bottle, .as 31% surrounding-the neck Bib thereof. The. het tie, in this instance, provided with trunnions, should these be necessary. 4 In this connect-ion, it should benoted that the jacket is of particular advantagev :for the purpose indicated, because inthe use of a lead bottle sucii as is ordinarily employed, it is practicaily impossible to provide a visibie mark or gage line to indicate the proper ievei. By the use or" the present bottle which may be filled to the top, a predetermined and exact amount of acid may be used.

Having fully described my invention, i

claim l. In a tire extinguisher system, the coinbination with a tenir containing `a body. of liquid, a' distributing pipe leading therefrom, and lire extinguisher agent supply means inc uding a `V.movaiilue pressure open ated controlling element arranged in the my hand in presence of tivo tenir, the tenir and the distributing pipe sei-vin.LID to contain elastic tiuid under sure, and the i'iuid'iu the tenir beef act-ive when the duid the die is exhausted 'to produce the nient of 'the element and ad aiiy operable ineens exterior pendent et' the tenir immedi relop'ing an elastic .tluid puisatien to duce the operative movement of 'the eie in a :tire extinguisher system, the coinioination with chemicai mixing means including an, acid bottle of means for maintaining aw' dominant elastic fluid pressure?,y ineens for maintaining a seraient elastic iuid pressure which operates autoniaticaiiy and. positiveiy to cause the acid hottie to discharge its contents when the dominant pressure is reduced andadditionai optionally onal option toand. inde i de* operable means for developing `a iuid pressure pulsatien to cause the acid aottle to discharge its contents.

3. in a etinguisiier, aid bottle forming part o" chemical iniiiing apparatus and an overtiow chamber associated with the acid bottie into which an excess mixture incident to the absorption of moisture by the acid may drain..

et. in a extinguisher, an acid bettie 'farming a partv of chemical mixing appara` tus and a jacket surrounding;n the acid .bottle and open at its upper end, the jacket pro vidine; an everow chamber into which an exce. mixture incident to the absoiption of moisture by the acid .may drain.

in testimony whereof it have hereunto set :subscribing Witnesses.

L. CUONEY. Witnesses z if?. Gens.,

Enemies, r. 

